15 Arts and Crafts Activities to Boost Memory in Children
- craftsyminds
- Jul 14, 2024
- 3 min read
Engaging children in arts and crafts is not just about nurturing their creativity. These activities can also significantly improve their memory. Here are 15 fun and educational arts and crafts activities that can help boost your children’s memory skills.
Activities to Boost Memory in Children
Storytelling with Illustrations
Activity: After reading a story, ask your child to draw key scenes or characters.
Example: If you read “The Very Hungry Caterpillar,” they can draw the caterpillar and the foods it eats.
Memory Boost: This helps with visual memory and recall of story details and sequences.
Memory Collages
Activity: Create a collage on a specific theme or story using magazine cut-outs or printed images.
Example: Make a collage of animals from a trip to the zoo, with each animal represented.
Memory Boost: Encourages categorisation and recall of related items, reinforcing memory connections.
Crafts with Instructions
Activity: Follow a series of steps to complete a craft project.
Example: Making an origami crane by following step-by-step folding instructions.
Memory Boost: Enhances procedural memory by remembering and executing a sequence of actions.
Memory Matching Games
Activity: Create pairs of cards with matching images drawn by your child.
Example: Drawing pairs of animals, like two lions, two elephants, etc., and playing a memory match game.
Memory Boost: Boosts working memory and recognition skills through repeated practice.
Timeline Art
Activity: Draw or paint timelines for historical events, personal milestones, or story plots.
Example: Creating a timeline of your child’s school year, marking significant events.
Memory Boost: Helps with chronological memory and understanding sequences of events.
Interactive Storybooks
Activity: Children create their own storybooks with drawings and writing.
Example: A book about a day at the park, with illustrations and simple sentences.
Memory Boost: Reinforces memory through the creation and subsequent recounting of their own stories.
Nature Journals
Activity: Collect natural items and record observations in a journal.
Example: Drawing leaves or flowers and noting where and when they were found.
Memory Boost: Enhances associative memory by linking visual and sensory experiences with written descriptions.
Scrapbooking
Activity: Create scrapbooks documenting holidays, school years, or special events.
Example: A scrapbook of a summer vacation, with photos, ticket stubs, and drawings.
Memory Boost: Promotes long-term memory by reviewing and organising past experiences.
Puzzle Crafts
Activity: Make a puzzle from a picture or drawing.
Example: Drawing a picture of a house, cutting it into pieces, and reassembling it.
Memory Boost: Strengthens spatial memory and the ability to recall how parts fit into a whole.
Visual Recipes
Activity: Cook using recipes illustrated by your child.
Example: Drawing steps for making a sandwich and following the steps while preparing it.
Memory Boost: Enhances procedural memory by visualising and recalling the steps needed to complete a task.
Alphabet and Number Crafts
Activity: Create and decorate alphabet or number crafts.
Example: Decorating each letter of the alphabet with different materials (e.g., “A” with apples).
Memory Boost: Helps with memorising sequences and symbols, reinforcing letter and number recognition.
Memory Box
Activity: Create a decorated box to store keepsakes and review the items periodically.
Example: Collecting souvenirs from family outings and discussing them later.
Memory Boost: Enhances autobiographical memory by connecting physical objects with personal experiences.
Art Reproductions
Activity: Observe a piece of art briefly, then recreate it from memory.
Example: Looking at a simple painting for a minute, then trying to paint it from memory.
Memory Boost: Boosts visual memory and attention to detail.
Flashcard Making
Activity: Design and decorate flashcards for various subjects.
Example: Creating math flashcards with addition problems on one side and answers on the other.
Memory Boost: Reinforces learning through active creation and subsequent use of the flashcards.
Sensory Art Projects
Activity: Use textured materials like sand, fabric, or clay in art projects.
Example: Creating a textured collage with different materials representing a beach scene.
Memory Boost: Enhances memory by linking tactile sensations with visual and creative experiences.
Incorporating these activities into regular routines can make memory improvement engaging and enjoyable for children. By combining creativity with cognitive exercises, you can help your child develop stronger memory skills while having fun.
